All Nippon Airways (ANA) faced significant challenges after acquiring the Airbus A380, an aircraft designed for high-demand routes that often proved difficult to fill. The Japanese carrier operates three of these jets on flights from Japan to Hawaii, which are among the emptiest in its network.
The Airbus A380 was developed by Airbus to compete with Boeing's dominance and serve a world of increased airport congestion. Despite its impressive capacity and design, many airlines struggled to fill the aircraft, leading to financial losses.
ANA acquired the A380s through a complex process involving Skymark Airlines. In 2015, ANA took over Skymark's unfilled purchase rights for the A380s after Skymark faced financial difficulties. This acquisition allowed ANA to customize and inherit new jets without long delivery delays.